System and method for determining advertising effectiveness

Abstract

In general, the relative effectiveness of different advertising content may be determined by determining comparative values to be associated with a first and second advertisement that has been rendered in an online environment, wherein the comparative values reflect user activity related to online interactions with the advertisements. An impression count may be determined for the advertisements that reflect a number of opportunities made available to users to perceive the advertisements within the online environment. Relative effectiveness measures for the first advertisement and the second advertisements may be determined based at least in part on the comparative values and the impression counts to enable comparison of the relative effectiveness measures for the first and second advertisements.

1 . A method of comparing the relative effectiveness of different advertising content, the method comprising: 
 determining a first comparative value to be associated with a first advertisement that has been rendered in an online environment, wherein the first comparative value reflects user activity related to online interactions with the first advertisement;    determining a first impression count for the first advertisement that reflects a number of opportunities made available to users to perceive the first advertisement within the online environment;    determining a second comparative value to be associated with a second advertisement that has been rendered in an online environment, wherein the second comparative value reflects user activity related to online interactions with the second advertisement;    determining a second impression count for the second advertisement that reflects a number of opportunities made available to users to perceive the second advertisement within the online environment;    determining a relative effectiveness measure for the first advertisement based at least in part on the first comparative value and the first impression count;    determining a relative effectiveness measure for the second advertisement based at least in part on the second comparative value and the second impression count; and    enabling comparison of the relative effectiveness measures for the first and second advertisements.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the relative effectiveness measures for the first and second advertisements includes determining an effectiveness measure per impression or an effectiveness measure per number of impressions.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the first comparative value or the second comparative value includes determining a revenue value realized through rendering the first advertisement or the second advertisement.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 comparing the relative effectiveness of more than two advertisements related to a zone; and    selecting a subset of the advertisements related to the zone using the compared relative effectiveness of the advertisements.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the first comparative value includes: 
 placing the first advertisement;    enabling user interaction with the first advertisement;    monitoring one or more financial transactions resulting from user interaction with the first advertisement; and    determining the first comparative value by aggregating metrics related to the financial transactions.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising executing the financial transaction.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising fulfilling a request resulting from the user interaction with the first advertisement.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising activating an online subscription for a user in response to executing the financial transaction for the user.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising communicating information reflecting aspects of the financial transaction to enable fulfillment of the financial transaction.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising shipping a product in response to executing the financial transaction for the user.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the first comparative value includes adjusting the first comparative value to account for fraud, a change in a subscription plan, a refund, a return, or an additional purchase.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising adjusting the relative effectiveness measure in response to adjusting the comparative value.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising identifying revenue related to fraud.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising adjusting the relative effectiveness measure based on identifying the revenue related to fraud.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the first comparative value includes quantifying a value metric for a non-financial transaction.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein determining the first comparative value includes normalizing the non-financial transaction with respect to other value metrics for other non-financial transactions.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein determining the first comparative value includes normalizing the non-financial transaction with respect to financial transactions.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein enabling comparison of the relative effectiveness measures for the non-financial and the financial transactions includes comparing the relative effectiveness measures based at least in part on a comparison of aggregated value metrics for the non-financial transactions and aggregated value metrics for the financial transactions.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein quantifying the financial value for the non-financial transaction includes quantifying the financial value for participating in a survey, participating in a tour, or participating in a trial offer.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein quantifying the value metric includes quantifying a value metric for selecting on an advertisement.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the first comparative value includes quantifying a value metric for a financial transaction.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein comparing the relative effectiveness measures for the first and the second advertisements includes distinguishing between two different advertisements for an object that is offered at different price points.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein distinguishing between the first and second advertisements includes displaying the different relative effectiveness metrics for the first and the second advertisements.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein comparing the relative effectiveness measures for the first and the second advertisements includes distinguishing between two different advertisements for an object presented in two different sizes.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 1  wherein comparing the relative effectiveness measures for the first and the second advertisements includes distinguishing between one advertisement presented in two different pages of differing subject matter.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 1  wherein comparing the relative effectiveness measures for the first and the second advertisements includes distinguishing between one advertisement invoked from two different gateway pages.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the first impression count includes tracking an impression metric that is incremented in response to providing the first advertisement to a user that has not previously received the first advertisement.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the first impression count includes tracking an impression metric that tracks how many times a user has received the first advertisement.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining the first impression count includes tracking an impression metric that is incremented upon providing the first advertisement irrespective of whether a user has previously received the first advertisement.  
   
   
       30 . A method of calculating effectiveness of an advertisement, the method comprising, 
 using a trusted payment processor code segment to determine a comparative value for an advertisement, wherein the comparative value relates to revenues that are realized through one or more online interactions with the advertisement;    determining an impression count for the advertisement; and    determining an effectiveness of the advertisement by relating the comparative value to the impression count.    
   
   
       31 . A system that compares the relative effectiveness of different advertising content, the system comprising: 
 a first comparative code segment structured and arranged to determine a first comparative value to be associated with a first advertisement that has been rendered in an online environment, wherein the first comparative value reflects user activity related to online interactions with the first advertisement;    a first impression code segment structured and arranged to determine a first impression count for the first advertisement that reflects a number of opportunities made available to users to perceive the first advertisement within the online environment;    a second comparative code segment structured and arranged to determine a second comparative value to be associated with a second advertisement that has been rendered in an online environment, wherein the second comparative value reflects user activity related to online interactions with the second advertisement;    a second impression code segment structured and arranged to determine a second impression count for the second advertisement that reflects a number of opportunities made available to users to perceive the second advertisement within the online environment;    a first effectiveness code segment structure and arranged to determine a relative effectiveness measure for the first advertisement based at least in part on the first comparative value and the first impression count;    a second effectiveness code segment structured and arranged to determine a relative effectiveness measure for the second advertisement based at least in part on the second comparative value and the second impression count; and    a comparison code segment structured and arranged to enable comparison of the relative effectiveness measures for the first and second advertisements.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first and second effectiveness code segments are structured and arranged to determine an effectiveness measure per impression or an effectiveness measure per number of impressions.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first and second comparative code segments are structured and arranged to determine a revenue value realized through rendering the first advertisement or the second advertisement.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 31  further comprising a zone management code segment structured and arranged to: 
 compare the relative effectiveness of more than two advertisements related to a zone; and    select a subset of the advertisements related to the zone using the compared relative effectiveness of the advertisements.    
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first comparative code segment is structured and arranged to: 
 place the first advertisement;    enable user interaction with the first advertisement;    monitor one or more financial transactions resulting from user interaction with the first advertisement; and    determine the first comparative value by aggregating metrics related to the financial transactions.    
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35  further comprising a transaction code segment structured and arranged to execute the financial transaction.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising a fulfillment code segment structured and arranged to fulfill a request resulting from the user interaction with the first advertisement.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising an activation code segment structured and arranged to activate an online subscription for a user in response to executing the financial transaction for the user.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 37  further comprising a proxy code segment structured and arranged to communicate information reflecting aspects of the financial transaction to enable fulfillment of the financial transaction.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 36  further comprising a shipping code segment structured and arranged to ship a product in response to executing the financial transaction for the user.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first comparative code segment is structured and arranged to adjust the first comparative value to account for fraud, a change in a subscription plan, a refund, a return, or an additional purchase.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41  further comprising an adjustment code segment structured and arranged to adjust the relative effectiveness measure in response to adjusting the comparative value.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 41  further comprising a fraud correlation code segment structured and arranged to identify revenue related to fraud.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43  further comprising a fraud effectiveness adjustment code segment structured and arranged to adjust the relative effectiveness measure based on identifying the revenue related to fraud.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first comparative code segment is structured and arranged to quantify a value metric for a non-financial transaction.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the first comparative code segment is structured and arranged to normalize the non-financial transaction with respect to other value metrics for other non-financial transactions.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the first comparative code segment is structured and arranged to normalize the non-financial transaction with respect to financial transactions.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the comparison code segment is structured and arranged to compare the relative effectiveness measures based at least in part on a comparison of aggregated value metrics for the non-financial transactions and aggregated value metrics for the financial transactions.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the first comparative code segment is structured and arranged to quantify the financial value for participating in a survey, participating in a tour, or participating in a trial offer.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 45  wherein the first comparative code segment is structured and arranged to quantify a value metric for selecting on an advertisement.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first comparative code segment is structured and arranged to quantify a value metric for a financial transaction.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the comparison code segment is structured and arranged to distinguish between two different advertisements for an object that is offered at different price points.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 52  wherein the comparison code segment is structured and arranged to display the different relative effectiveness metrics for the first and the second advertisements.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the comparison code segment is structured and arranged to distinguish between two different advertisements for an object presented in two different sizes.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the comparison code segment is structured and arranged to distinguish between one advertisement presented in two different pages of differing subject matter.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the comparison code segment is structured and arranged to distinguish between one advertisement invoked from two different gateway pages.  
   
   
       57 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first impression code segment is structured and arranged to track an impression metric that is incremented in response to providing the first advertisement to a user that has not previously received the first advertisement.  
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first impression code segment is structured and arranged to track an impression metric that tracks how many times a user has received the first advertisement.  
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the first impression code segment is structured and arranged to track an impression metric that is incremented upon providing the first advertisement irrespective of whether a user has previously received the first advertisement.  
   
   
       60 . A system that calculates effectiveness of an advertisement, the system comprising: 
 a trusted payment processor code segment structured and arranged to determine a comparative value for an advertisement, wherein the comparative value relates to revenues that are realized through one or more online interactions with the advertisement;    an impression code segment structured and arranged to determine an impression count for the advertisement; and    an effectiveness code segment structured and arranged to determine an effectiveness of the advertisement by relating the comparative value to the impression count.    
   
   
       61 . A system that compares the relative effectiveness of different advertising content, the system comprising, 
 means for determining a first comparative value to be associated with a first advertisement that has been rendered in an online environment, wherein the first comparative value reflects user activity related to online interactions with the first advertisement;    means for determining a first impression count for the first advertisement that reflects a number of opportunities made available to users to perceive the first advertisement within the online environment;    means for determining a second comparative value to be associated with a second advertisement that has been rendered in an online environment, wherein the second comparative value reflects user activity related to online interactions with the second advertisement;    means for determining a second impression count for the second advertisement that reflects a number of opportunities made available to users to perceive the second advertisement within the online environment;    means for determining a relative effectiveness measure for the first advertisement based at least in part on the first comparative value and the first impression count;    means for determining a relative effectiveness measure for the second advertisement based at least in part on the second comparative value and the second impression count; and    means for enabling comparison of the relative effectiveness measures for the first and second advertisements.    
   
   
       62 . A system that calculates effectiveness of an advertisement, the system comprising: 
 means for using a trusted payment processor code segment to determine a comparative value for an advertisement, wherein the comparative value relates to revenues that are realized through one or more online interactions with the advertisement;    means for determining an impression count for the advertisement; and    means for determining an effectiveness of the advertisement by relating the comparative value to the impression count.